Although it's 2022, this does not negate the fact that some people are still using the 2008 and 2012 versions. Why are they used? It's simple – it's convenient for people to work in them due to their low system requirements. However, people do not think about the likely consequences that the use of these systems may incur.
These systems have their own differences, which I will list now
Support
Windows server 2008 - Basic support was completed on January 13, 2015, and extended support ended on January 14, 2020, on this day support for Windows server 2008 ended.
Windows server 2012 - Currently telegram data supported and receiving security updates. Support will be provided until October 10, 2023.
Hyper-V Network Virtualization
Windows server 2012 - Available to use and create network traffic isolation.
Low-cost data storage
Windows server 2008 - The SMB function for storing files is not available.
Windows server 2012 - The SMB function is available and improved for storing various data, for example, MySQL databases on shared file resources.
IP Address Management
Windows server 2012 - It is possible to manage addresses.
Managing multiple servers
Windows server 2012 - Supports management of multiple servers and grants the administrator the right to monitor all servers at once.